Summer special: Waikiki for $99 — or less

The cure for the summertime blues may be Aqua. If you’re blue about the normally high cost of summer travel to Hawaii, Aqua Hotels & Resorts is offering rooms at all 12 of its “boutique” hotels in Waikiki for $99 — or less. Boutique means small, hiply renovated and, in this case, not on the beach — but some are quite close, and many offer a number of free amenities like continental breakfast and Wi-Fi.

And at Aqua’s one actual resort, the all-suite Diamond Wailea Resort & Spa on 15 acres in South Maui, lodgings start at $199 — a bargain by ritzy Wailea standards. And there you get “exclusive” access to Wailea Beach, with an attendant providing free water, umbrella and chair to Diamond Wailea guests.

The special rates, which began June 1, are good for 99 days — through Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2009. While Aqua has always offered under-$100 rooms at a few of its properties, lowering some tariffs at its nicest properties, such as the Best Western Coconut Waikiki and Waikiki Wave, will keep the pressure on other hoteliers to extend their spring savings into summer. Many have already done so; be sure to shop around for the best deal (and location) for your needs.

For details about Aqua’s many Waikiki specials and packages, click here. For more about its Diamond Wailea offers, click here.

Jeanne Cooper

A suite at Aqua Bamboo & Spa comes with a kitchen and twin beds in the living area, plus a bedroom (not pictured).